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Monday, 8 October 2012

Beef & Mushroom Ragout


Cook Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Ingredients:
2 pounds of stew beef, cut in chunks
1/3 cup of olive oil
1 pound of leeks, trimmed and sliced
1/2 cup of Metaxa or brandy
4 1/2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
2 pounds of fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
2 teaspoons of salt
Preparation:
In a stew pot, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the meat and brown on all sides. Add the leeks and cook until soft. Douse (deglaze) with brandy. Add the water slowly, stirring well. Add pepper, bring to boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer for 1 hour and 35-40 minutes.
20 minutes before cooking time is up, stir in mushrooms and salt.

Pork and Shrimp Shumai (Shiu Mai) – Chinese Dumplings

Ingredients:
1/2 package wonton wrappers, round*
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound shrimp, deveined and finely chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg, beaten, for egg wash
Method:
Garnish: 1 small quarter of a carrot, minced
Special equipment: 1 or 2 large bamboo steamers with lid, pastry brush
*If all you have on hand is square wonton wrappers, stack about 10 together at a time, place a round cookie cutter or drinking glass on top as a guide, and slice into circles with a small knife.
1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the pork, shrimp, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of the filling into the center of a wonton wrapper. Lightly brush the sides of the wrapper with egg wash. Squeeze the sides up until the wrapper forms a cup, tucking in the sides and leaving the filling exposed on top. Repeat with the rest of the wrappers. Garnish with orange roe or chopped carrots.
3. Line 1 or 2 large bamboo steamer with parchment paper. Fit the steamer basket(s) in the wok and pour enough water into the wok until the water line is 1 inch below the bottom of the steamer. Steam the siu mai for 12 to 15 minutes, until filling is firm to the touch. Serve with soy sauce, chili sauce, or chili oil.

Beef and Bean Quesadillas


Ingredients:
1 tsp. (5 mL) vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 lb. (250 g) lean ground beef
1 can (19 oz./540 mL) kidney, pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup (250 mL) salsa, any kind — spicy or mild
12 large (10-inch/25-cm) flour tortillas
2 cups (500 mL) shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Method:
1. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onion, stir to coat with oil, then crumble in the ground beef. Cook, stirring to break up lumps, until the meat is no longer pink — about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the beans and salsa and continue to cook, stirring and mashing the beans slightly, for another 5 to 7 minutes or until the mixture is heated through and flavours are blended.
2. Lay a tortilla on a plate. Spread with about 3/4 cup (175 mL) of the bean mixture — almost, but not quite all the way to the edges of the tortilla. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup (50 mL) shredded cheese (or a bit more, if you prefer). Place another tortilla on top, and press down lightly.
3. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Transfer the quesadilla to the griddle and let cook until the tortilla is lightly browned on the bottom. Flip over and cook the other side until browned and the cheese inside is melted. Slide onto a cutting board and let sit for a minute or two before cutting into wedges — serve hot.

Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp (tom yum goong, ต้มยำกุ้ง)


Ingredients:
2 lemongrass stalks, cut into 1″ pieces and smashed a bit (about 1/3 cup)
6 lime leaves (1 tablespoon), torn with center vein removed
2 tablespoons galangal sliced thin
1 tablespoon coriander roots, about 2 roots
2 tablesoons shallots, whole with skin removed (1-2 shallots)
1 cup tomato (about 1 medium tomato), sliced into 6-8 pieces lengthwise
2 cups broth (pork, chicken)
1/2 cup straw mushrooms, ends removed and halved
2 tablespoons (about 7) red medium-sized thai chilies, smashed
4 or 5 medium-sized saltwater shrimp, whole and uncleaned, the fresher the better
pinch salt
1 1/4 teaspoon fish sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons roasted chili paste
1 tablespoon lime juice (or more to taste)
3 tablespoons milk (from a cow not a coconut). *optional
3 small dried chilies, roasted *optional – add if adding milk
1 tablespoon coriander chopped
1. Prepare all the ingredients. Remove the outer layer of the lemongrass stalks and cut off the end. Cut into 1-2″ pieces and smash with the side of a heavy knife to release flavor. Tear the center vein off the lime leaves. Slice your galangal into thin slices. Cut the tomato into 6 pieces lengthwise. Peel the skin off the shallots and smash lightly. Clean your coriander roots well. Smash the fresh chilies with the back of a heavy knife, or in a mortar and pestle. If using fresh Thai straw mushrooms, slice the bottoms off and cut in 1/2 lengthwise. If making the version with milk: roast the dried chilies until fragrant and browned in a dry wok on medium heat (see note).
2. Clean the shrimp by peeling off the backs and snapping off the top part of the heads, but leave the fat on at the base of the head (the reddish brown goop). This is very important, as that fat imparts a signature flavor into Tom Yum Goong. Don’t discard it. Then, peel out the legs + intestine underneath, but leave the tails on. Set aside.
3. Boil the broth on high until it comes to a rapid boil. (see note about broth below). Add the lime leaves, lemongrass, coriander root, galangal, shallot(s) and tomato. Boil for 4-5 minutes until the broth tastes herbal. if you’re using fresh ingredients, 4-5 minutes should be enough. In a separate pan, boil the mushrooms in plain water.
4. After you’ve boiled 4-5 minutes, add a pinch of salt and the shrimp. Strain the cooked mushrooms and add them to the soup as well. Cook until shrimp turn pink, about a minute.
5. Add the fish sauce and remove from heat. You will now season the soup.
6. Add lime juice, chili paste, smashed fresh chilies. Taste the soup. Is it sour? Is it salty? If no, add a bit more, 1/4 teaspoon at a time.
7. If making the version with milk: Add the milk and dried chilies. If doing this step you’ll need to add a bit more lime juice and fish sauce as the milk tames it down a bit. Add about a teaspoon more of each.
8. Add cilantro and serve. This soup is best served really hot!

Falafel or Taamia


Preparation Time: 45 min
Cooking Time: 45 min
Ingredients:
4 cups dried fava beans, split, dried and skinless
3 teaspoons cumin powder
2 teaspoons dried coriander
ground chili pepper
pepper
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 large onion, finely grated
5 garlic cloves, crushed
5 scallions, finely grated
1/2 cup parsley leaf, finely chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
Vegetable oil for frying
For the tahini sauce:
1/2 cup tahini, sesame paste
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
Method:
1. Soak the fava bean in cold water for 24 hours to soften them. Remove them from water and let them dry on paper towel.
2. Put the dry fava bean in a food processor along with salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, baking powder and chili pepper, and mix them well until they form a smooth paste. Set aside to rest for 30mn.
3. Add to the fava paste the onion, scallions, garlic, parsley and cilantro; mix well using your hands.
4. Form spoonfuls of the falafel mixture into balls and flatten slightly into patties. Keep the patties aside to rest for around 15 mn.
5. For the tahini sauce: in a bowl first combine garlic, tahini, and salt. Then add olive oil, then lemon juice. If it is too thick, you can adjust consistency by adding desired amount of warm water. Chill.
6. Heat enough oil in pan to deep fry the falafel patties. Make sure to fry them on both sides. When they become brown on both sides, remove and let them drain on paper towels. Serve hot with the tahini sauce.
7. May be served with pita bread and slices of tomatoes.

Feijoada


Ingredients
500 g of black beans
300 g of dried meat
300 g smoked meat
300 g paio
300 g smoked sausage
300 g pork ribs
250 g of bacon
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp (tablespoons) chopped parsley
1 pinch paprika
1 pinch ground cumin
1 orange
chili to taste
salt and black pepper to taste kingdom
olive oil to taste
cabbage
3 bunches of kale
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tbsp (tablespoons) of olive oil
50 g of bacon
salt to taste
sauce
1 onion, grated
parsley and chives to taste
cayenne and salt to taste
olive oil to taste
2 cups (tea) of bean soup
Method:
1. Pick the beans and place in a container background. Add enough water and let them soak for about 12 hours, changing the water every 3 hours.
2. With a sharp knife, cut the dried meat into pieces, remove and discard the fat, and place in a container. Cover with water and let soak for 12 hours, changing the water every 3 hours.
3. Cut the bacon into large cubes. Set aside a small portion for the steamed and cut into small pieces.
4. To cut the pork ribs into pieces, lay the ribs on a cutting board and let the bones of the face up. With a sharp knife, cut the meat along the line between the bones. Reserve.
5. Drain the dried meat and place the meat in a pan. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. When boiling, drain the water and cover again with cold water. Bring back the fire and bring to a boil. Drain and set aside.
6. Drain the beans and place them in a large saucepan. Cover the beans with water and bring to a boil over high heat. While waiting to boil, wash the orange well under running water.
7. When boiling, lower the heat and add the whole orange (with peel) and dried meat. After 30 minutes, add the reserved ribs. After another 30 minutes, add the smoked meat. Remove and discard the orange.
8. Then add the sausages and bacon whole. Let cook for another 90 minutes or until meat and beans are tender.
9. Chop the onion, garlic and green seasoning. Take a large skillet over low heat, drizzle with a little olive oil and add the chopped bacon. Then add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Place the green smell, cumin, paprika, chili, minced and stir well.
10. Grab a soft shell beans without the juice from inside the feijoada and place on a plate. Mash with a fork to form a paste. Place the beans in the skillet pope with sautéed and stir well. If necessary, add a little broth.
11. Transfer the stew to the pope for the pot of feijoada, stir and cook for another few minutes. 12. Taste the beans and check whether you need to add salt and pepper.
13. Remove the sausages into the pan and place them on a cutting board. Cut the sausages into thin slices and place the slices in the pan of feijoada. Expect the beans warm and serve immediately.
(Optional)
To accompany, serve white rice, steamed cabbage, farofa, fried manioc and orange sections.
Cabbage. Wash the cabbage under running water. Remove the leaves and stalks of the sheet stack one over the other. Wrap the leaves, pressing well, as if making a cigar.
Put the cigar cabbage on a cutting board and cut with a sharp knife, thinly sliced.
Take a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over low heat. Put the olive oil and bacon and saute for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Then put all the chopped kale to the pan and saute for 2 minutes without stirring constantly, or until the cabbage begins to wilt.
Season with salt and mix well. Remove the kale from the pan (still well greenback) and serve.
For the sauce, combine all ingredients and serve with the beans.

Fettine tiepide di salmone con insalatina di funghi


Warm slices of salmon with a salad of mushrooms
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking time: 1 min
INGREDIENTS
Salmon fillet 850 g
500 g mushrooms
Artichokes nr 5
1 bunch dill
1 bunch chives
Extra virgin olive oil 120 g
Juice of one lemon
Salt and pepper q.b
Method:
· Clean and wash the mushrooms.
· Clean the artichokes and keep them in water and lemon juice.
· Thinly slice the salmon and place on a baking sheet lightly greased.
· Cut the artichokes and mushrooms into thin slices and season with salt, pepper, a little lemon, olive oil and chopped dill.
· Cook the salmon in the oven salt and pepper for 1 minute at 250 °.
· Arrange the salad on a plate and add the half-cooked salmon and willing to pink.
· Garnish with thinly sliced ​​chives and a drizzle of olive oil.

Bhapa Ilish/ Steamed Hilsa

Signature Bengali dish.
Ingredients:
Hilsha/Ilish fish 5 or 6 pieces
Mustard seed 3 tbsp
Onion 1pc (finely chopped)
Green chili 4 to 5
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Salt (as per taste)
Sugar (as per taste)
Mustard oil
Method :
1. Soak mustard in water for about an hour and then grind it into a fine paste.
2. Clean the pieces of Ilish fish and placed it in a steel container box having lid.
3. Add the mustard paste to the fish and then add chopped onion, turmeric powder, slitted green chilies, salt and little sugar and finally 2 tbsp mustard oil mustard oil. Now mix the whole mixture so that the paste get mixed thoroughly with the fish. Now close the lid of the container.
4. Heat a large pan and add about 4 cups of water. Now placed the steel container inside the pan . Cover the pan and let it cook in high flame for about 5 minute and then reduced the flame and cook for another 12 to 15 minute(Check the level of water inside the pan at regular interval it shouldn’t get dried up).
5. In case of Microwave preparation, mix whole ingredient including the fish in a microwave safe closed container. Close the lid and cook it in microwave for 8 to 10 minute.
6. Serve hot with steam rice.

Blanquette de Veau


What is veal stew?

A stew of veal in a white sauce with mushrooms and onions.

Prep. / Cooking
30 mins/1Hour
Ingredients
1.3 kg veal (stew meat / stew, cut into cubes)
1 onion
1 clove
1 or 2 carrots
18 small onions (peeled)
230 g mushrooms
Herbs: 2 sprigs thyme, 3 parsley, 1 stalk celery, 1 bay leaf
2 egg yolks
30 cl crème fraîche
Lemon juice
butter
salt
water
Method:
1: Cut the veal into cubes of 5 cm, Drill onion with garlic. Join with a small string celery, thyme, parsley and bay leaf.
2: Melt 3 tbsp. in s. butter with oil in a casserole or large saucepan. Add the veal. And lightly brown on each side.
3: Add the carrots, onion, herbs and salt. Add water to cover the meat.
4: Cook over high heat until boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
5: Peel the pearl onions. Clean the mushrooms and cut them into quarters. Melt 3 tbsp. in s. butter in a skillet. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Sauté until mushrooms are lightly browned.
6: Remove the mushrooms. Put 2 tbsp. in s. butter in skillet. Add the onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Put the mushrooms in the pan and keep warm over very low heat.
7: Mix the egg yolk, cream and the juice of half a lemon in a bowl.
8: Put the meat, mushrooms and onions in a serving dish.
9: Pour the egg yolk and cream in the meat juices in the pan. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Do not boil. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper if needed.
10: Pour the sauce over the meat in the dish.
Service: veal stew is often served with rice.
Suggested wine: Bordeaux Supérieur red type or Graves, red wine Loire, Chablis, Vouvray (Vin de France).
Bon appétit!

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